When the ancient Polynesians invented surfing, they often used a paddle to help them navigate. Fast-forward a few millennia, and Stand-Up Paddleboarding, or SUP, finds itself trendy again. Part of its increasing popularity is that standing upright allows surfers to spot waves more easily and thus catch more of them, multiplying the fun factor. Paddling back to the wave becomes less of a strain as well. The ability to cruise along on flat inland water, surveying the sights, is another advantage. Finally, it’s a good core workout. If you’re sold on the idea, schedule an intro SUP lesson, free with board and paddle rental, and you may find yourself riding the waves like a Polynesian king.More
Many of us remember coming home from our elementary schools with freshly glazed pinchpots, cups, or whatever else our young imaginations could conjure up. Saturday mornings at the Randall Museum can bring that memory back, or create a new one for the youngsters. Ceramics make great gifts — especially on Mothers' and Fathers' Day. Hop on board for the Randall's once-weekly class, and for $6 and two weeks to have your work fired and glazed, you'll have all the materials you need.More
December is almost over - the New Year is coming up and everyone is busy drying off from the rain or holiday shopping. Let's take a look at what's happened this month.
The sinews of old San Francisco lie in the water: the posts standing in the Bay mud that supported the docks and piers where the shipping that made the city possible, and later allowed it to flourish, flowed.
Sub Pop recording artists 'clipping.' brought their brand of noise-driven experimental hip hop to the closing night of 2016's San Francisco Electronic Music Fest this past Sunday. The packed Brava Theater hosted an initially seated crowd that ended the night jumping and dancing against the front of the stage. The trio performed a set focused on their recently released Sci-Fi Horror concept album, 'Splendor & Misery', then delved into their dancier and more aggressive back catalogue, and recent single 'Wriggle'.
Opening performances included local experimental electronic duo 'Tujurikkuja' and computer music artist 'Madalyn Merkey.'"
Suckers Normally we don't fall for cheap publicity stunts. But every once in a while some band -- well, it's usually the Gun & Doll Show -- manages to impress us with clever, if sometimes poorly executed, promotional gimmicks. (They…
Scream III Just in time for the season of ghouls, Chris Cobb and fellow San Francisco Art Institute student Paul Quinones offer up "All the Screaming You Will Ever Need." Cobb, the 28-year-old interdisciplinary artist who brought us the subtly…
The Many Faces of essence Dear Riff Raff Readers: We recently realized that, for the first time ever, we had been holding out on you, hoarding precious materials for ourselves like selfish teen-age girls and so much cheap makeup. Some…
Americana/Roots Wilson Gil& the Willful Sinners Wilson Gil brushes off old memories like any good yarn-spinning country singer. But the urban Gil finds his grit in the city he loves, not along a dusty trail. Ten years of highs and…
A Jazzman's Life Bay Area composer and tenor saxophonist Glenn Spearman died of cancer in his home Thursday morning, Oct. 8. He was 51. A colossal improviser and kindhearted father figure to many in the local creative-music community, Spearman's loss…
Give Me Royalties or Give Me Death Inc. Three of the four former members of the Dead Kennedys, the long-defunct San Francisco political punk band, announced last week that they intend to terminate their relationship with Alternative Tentacles Records (ATR).…
Confidential to the Lastnameless and Lowercased essence We're hurt. You know that Riff Raff cares about you and your ongoing romps through the strange confluence of music and fashion. We've reported almost every significant development of your blossoming career. We…
Ethical Instigation Regular readers know that every once in a while, Riff Raff likes to lean back in our chairs and ponder ethical questions both big and small. One of our favorite publications to think about is the San Francisco…
Under and Over On April 11, Police and Fire Department officials raided and shut down San Francisco's most important underground music spot. In four years of operation, Starcleaners offered an extraordinary mix of punk and metal bands, performance art, a…
A Fair Excuse If they stay in the business long enough, every promoter faces a disaster of a show. But promoters don't usually face catastrophes twice in a row. That's exactly what happened to Karin Conn and Steve Ringow two…
Who Do You Think We Are, 1998 They were there, 2,000 strong, to witness a sold-out Deep Purple and Emerson Lake & Palmer concert. Middle-aged rocker fans, a few gripping binoculars, milled around the lobby of the Warfield last Friday…
Sub Pop recording artists 'clipping.' brought their brand of noise-driven experimental hip hop to the closing night of 2016's San Francisco Electronic Music Fest this past Sunday. The packed Brava Theater hosted an initially seated crowd that ended the night jumping and dancing against the front of the stage. The trio performed a set focused on their recently released Sci-Fi Horror concept album, 'Splendor & Misery', then delved into their dancier and more aggressive back catalogue, and recent single 'Wriggle'.
Opening performances included local experimental electronic duo 'Tujurikkuja' and computer music artist 'Madalyn Merkey.'"
